The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-07-13
THE DEADLY TORNADO.
LOSSES IN TIE UNITED STATES EST
MATED AT $500. 100000.

LOSSES IN THE UNITED STATES EST
MATED AT $500. 100000.
Tornado -Centering Regions--Frequency Of
Cyclones in the mississippi Ealley-l"S:
a Mild Tornado Year.
The terrible destruction of life and
property by tornadoes at this season
causes much fear in several States. he
cent Investigations by Lieutenant John
P. Finlay, signal service, United States
army, reveal to some extent the danger
in each region, which will do much TO
allay unnecessary alarm in the Eastern
States. At the same time other regions
before thought to be comparatively safe
are found to be more dangerous than
had been supposed.
The first striking result Of the ezami-
nation of Lieutenant Finlay's map, show
ing the geographical distribution OF tor
nadoes from 1882 to 1856 inclusive is
that they uniformly avoid extended
mountain ranges. The Rocky Noun
tains present SO insurmouotable barri-
er that the country lying west of this
great range is almost entirely free from
the long, violent tornado tracts seen IN
Kansas and Missouri. 1t is known that
storm centers which form west Of the
Rocky Mountains are imperfectly de-
veloped, and are not persistent or vio-
lent in their course until the Mississippi
valley is reached. Tornadoes form at an
average distance of 453 miles southeast
OF the main storm center, as shown in
forty-o one cases cited by Professor Fl. j.
Hazcn, of the signal service. 1t follows
that the cold air from the foot of the
Rocky Mountains, coming in the wake
of and eastward moving storm manifest
ing unusually low barometer, causes
sharp contrasts of temperature in Kansas
and Missouri, and these contrasts, some
times as much as fifty degrees, result in
great tornado frequency in northwestern
Missouri and northern Kansas. It is
further shown by the distribution of
tornado tracts that the average of severi-
ty and destruction steadily lessons as the
storm centers move eastward from the
Mississippi valley. This waning Of tor
nado power is gradual, but the danger
does not entirely cease as the Atlantic
coast is approached. The coast lines Of
the Gulf of Mexico and OF the Atlantic
ocean are nearly free from tornadoes,
because great contrasts accompanying
storm centers cannot develop, owing to
the equaGzing effect of the ocean tenn
perature and moisture.
IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
OF the total number of tornadoes re-
ported nearly one half occur in the Mis-
sissippi valley, which is The region OF
greatest violence. The lapse of time
must make this even more marked, be-
cause the records Of the Eastern States
cover a much longer period, while the
number of tornadoes is less. The region
OF greatest frequency is along the north
and west boundary lines of Missouri, In
creasing toward the point OF intersection.
Then comes northwestern Georgia ex-
tending into Alabama. 4 very solid and
compact region OF tornado development
is in southern Michigan, tending toward
the lower part Of Lake Michigan. For a
distance Of about 200 miles square, this
region nearly equals that of Kansas in
frequency, though it has not more than
one-tenth its extent, and it's average Sc
verify is far less. In the Eastern States,
the most remarkable region next to
western New York, is in the Connecticut
river valley, which seems to be persist.
emily followed by tornadoes through
Connecticut and Massachusetts, into New
Hampshire. The open country here
favors the development of small lorna
do with tract about mile or half a
mile long, and from two hundred to five
hundred feet in width. Western Con-
necticut and Massachusetts, favor the
accumulation of warm air from the
southwest, which moves steadily north
ward, while Pennsylvania, Virginia and
western Delaware remain cool, this
causing sharp contrasts Of temperature.
In southeastern Pennsylvania the bend
of the Delaware river there IS group OF
tornadoes centering near Trenton, n. j.
Southeast of Lakes Erie and Ontario
there is also lively region, which is an
extension due to the still high contrasts
of temperature common in the Missis-
sippi valley and southeastern Michigan.
In northeastern Mississippi there is a
very marked extension of the Georgia
and Alabama region, though not quite
equaling it in frequency.
LOSSES OF LIFE AND PROPERTY.
The value of property reported to the
signal service as destroyed in 205 years
years was about S2S, 100000. Lieutenant
Finlay estimates this to be about one
tenth the actual value, making the total
losses about $500, 100000.
The number of deaths reported was
), l65, and the injured 5,G49.